Intelligent CIO North America Issue 01 | Page 53

FEATURE: 5G How to get 5G security right in today’s uncertain times Mike O’Malley, Radware, explains how businesses can get 5G security right in these challenging COVID-19 times. At the start of 2020, everyone in mobile was expecting 5G to launch at a normal pace. Speculation was rife on new handsets, and there was anticipation of exciting new IoT applications and wearables, through to mainstream use of AR and VR. There have been hiccups Down Under, with the economic downturn and Australia sidelining Huawei, but roll-out is proceeding, at least in the big cities and more populated areas. For operators, the financial climate means there have been tough decisions to make. Should they continue to invest despite the prospect of greatly reduced revenues compared to the business plan they built pre-recession? Or plough on, hopeful that the different way of working and living is here to stay for some time, hence consumer interest may accelerate in some areas. For instance, replacing home broadband with 5G could thrive as a result of the lockdown. People will review their expenditure and what www.intelligentcio.com INTELLIGENTCIO 53